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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that World Book Day should be about BOOK characters?!

254 replies

mrsbn1988 · 21/02/2023 20:34

This is lighthearted .

But AIBU for getting an irrational rage that there are kids dressed up as Elsa or Moana or Marvel someone every WBD?

This stems from the fact that I've just been looking for a WBD costume from a well-known supermarket and spotted a Bluey costume. Now don't get me wrong - I LOVE Bluey, but Bluey was created for TV. Same as Peppa Pig.

I KNOW there are story books around that feature these characters, but they were originally created for TV or film, so they don't count.

And yes, characters like Harry Potter do, because they were originally book characters before the film adaptions.

I'm interested to hear other's opinions. Is World Book Day just becoming an excuse for kids to dress up in their favourite fancy dress outfit without actually thinking about the book element?!

OP posts:
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OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 21/02/2023 21:35

I don't care what kids wear or whether their character has ever been associated with a book or not. If the child is happy and excited they are more likely to be engaged and if they are engaged then they are more open to suggestion and to then engage in the reading activities and that's what it is all about, getting kids enthused about reading.

MermaidMummy06 · 21/02/2023 21:36

I think the dress up is painful & doesn't achieve anything. I wish it was ditched. It's the reading activities that help.

I encourage DC to wear whatever we've got in the dress up box or what I can make easily, cheaply & quickly. Our budget doesn't stretch to new costumes they won't rewear. I don't give a rip if they're officially a book character or not.

OoooohMatron · 21/02/2023 21:36

BeautifulWar · 21/02/2023 21:30

My son's favourite book is his Match annual so he's going in his football kit. Does that get your approval? 🙄

Why do people get so salty about people expressing an opinion?

Because it's been done to death. Nobody cares except tedious pendants. Not all kids like dressing up.

Plumbear2 · 21/02/2023 21:41

20 years ago my DD went as fizz from the Tweenies because we already had the costume and she has several books. My son's went as George pig and scooby doo for the same reasons. Try telling a 4 year they carnt where these outfits just because it was TV show first. They have the book so that makes no sense to them

merlotlover · 21/02/2023 21:50

They could just get the kids to bring in their favourite books/comics etc and talk about them
I think it's all a bit silly
We're passed all that now thankfully

Snugglemonkey · 21/02/2023 21:51

My DC is going as a Marvel character. He has never seen the films, but he does read comics and books with Marvel characters. So given that it is favourite reading material atm, I am happy for him to be Iron Man.

What if another child feels that way about Elsa, or Bluey etc. There are books with stories about these characters. Is it not better that a child reads, even if it is about characters from TV shows, than not reading at all? Maybe these characters are acting as a gateway into a love of reading.

Wanderingowl · 21/02/2023 21:54

Number 1 easiest WBD costume. Draw and cut out a picture of Greg Heffly/The Wimpy Kids face. Put it on stick. Tell child to hold it over face, maybe wear white shirt and carry diary. Done!

Phos · 21/02/2023 21:54

I get why people are saying YABU but I'm going YANBU on this. As someone else said, plenty book characters wear regular clothes. My daughter is going as a vet this year. I've bought a costume because we are able to but it's something we could have done on the cheap if we needed to.

DuesToTheDirt · 21/02/2023 21:55

mrsbn1988 · 21/02/2023 20:42

@FreestyleInTrance But are they actually reading?! Or are they just watching a screen?

Fine, I'll let Marvel go. But not Elsa and Anna.

Grin

I watched a programme on the BBC a while ago, about people's favourite books as voted for by the public or something. Might have been about this list.

It was full of clips of films and TV series (Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Rings etc.), which suggested that it their list was obviously highly influenced by films, and I wondered whether the voters had read the books at all. Of course, TV is a visual medium, so having clips like this as illustration is to be expected but they didn't have any passages from the books at all! I would have liked to hear the words of the authors - books aren't just stories (in any case TV adaptations often change the stories too), they are words, they are writing.

afrikat · 21/02/2023 21:56

You can get a book version of Frozen so YABU

ArDi · 21/02/2023 22:00

CBA to read all the comments, but just have to say that I am so glad my two are now out of World Book Day range, having grown past primary school
IMO the day should be about sharing books NOT dressing up as things/people from books. It's a huge amount of pressure on already stressed parents, and a waste of the earth's resources.
When we had to do it, we'd tend to hunt around for a costume in the box at home and then think of a book we could say it was a character from. Or just wear ordinary clothes and think of a character like Danny the Champion, or Matilda who just looks ordinary. Pointless.

Fuckitydoodah · 21/02/2023 22:00

Yet another pointless day that's been monetised. Buy your kid a shitty supermarket costume that's been made by some poor fucker who got paid 15p or feel like a shit parent. Try to make them something homemade, but that makes you feel like shit too as you haven't got time, and it looks crap.

I Hate it.

elliejjtiny · 21/02/2023 22:02

Yabu. Sometimes my dc go as a character from a novel, sometimes from a comic or annual. I refuse to buy new stuff for world book day so we use what is in the dressing up box or they go as a character who wears normal clothes.

Diddlediddlehey · 21/02/2023 22:04

merlotlover · 21/02/2023 21:50

They could just get the kids to bring in their favourite books/comics etc and talk about them
I think it's all a bit silly
We're passed all that now thankfully

I've never understood why this isn't encouraged more - you could buy a new book instead of a costume (and for cheaper) - they could share / book swap with their friends at school.

I have two in primary - this year to "help" with the COL our school has stipulated that all costumes must be home made. I just wish we could scrap the need for a costume!

PeeblesQueebles · 21/02/2023 22:10

DD is going as a muggle.

You’re welcome.

maddening · 21/02/2023 22:14

Re marvel they have a rich history of comics and graphic novels over several decades.

InWalksBarberalla · 21/02/2023 22:21

This isn't a new thing. Kids have been going dressed as tv characters etc for ages now. The while thing is a PITA and whatever gets you through it is fine in my books.

edwinbear · 21/02/2023 22:24

I felt a bit like that when my DC were small, however with a now Y9 and current Y6 (so 10 bloody years of it) I’m so ground down by WBD I give no fucks by whatever anyone is wearing.

RagingWoke · 21/02/2023 22:29

@usernotfound0000 the current love is Kiran Millwood Hargrave, 'The girl of Ink and stars'. I picked up the illustrated edition and it's beautiful. DD couldn't put it down and hasn't stopped talking about it. Next up is 'the island at the end of everything'.

Some other great books recently have been:
'Haven point'
'Skandar and the unicorn thief'
'The night we got stuck in a story'
'Forgotten tales of brave and brilliant girls'

lilsupersparks · 21/02/2023 22:29

Mine dress up as something they have recently read and enjoyed.

We too have had the issue that people have not recognised their costumes and the prize always seems to go to a shop bought costume.

When I had 4 little ones, I stipulated that their book character must be one that wears normal clothes 😂

i have gone a little bit more all out in year 6 for my two eldest. My y6 this year is going to be the young Barry Crouch with poly juice potion a.k.a Mad Eye Moody. It’s going to be a fake hallow’een eye, a jacket of Daddy’s, maybe a scar face paint… hopefully be recognisable at least!!

Younger ones are Tom Gates (going to draw Dog Zombies on his PE t shirt and make him a 2D mask)

Violet Beauregard - party clothes, fluffy jacket and a handmade golden ticket. Maybe a cuddly squirrel if I can find someone who has one to borrow!

I have never bought a costume - maybe a few bits here and there - a dog toy pheasant when we did Danny the Champion of the world, a turnip for a Boy Called Christmas to make his doll. A dragon fruit for the Boy who Grew Dragons.

defi · 21/02/2023 22:32

My sons going as spider man cause he has a spider man costume. I'm not wasting money on something he'll wear once and I'm not an arts and crafts mum. I begrudge being given tasks to do on top of my own work/life load

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 21/02/2023 22:33

I have fond memories of my eldest DD going as Katie Morag and Tiresome Ted, when she was little. A plaid skirt, a jumper and a bear in a baby sleepsuit,nicked from Tiny Tears.
But generally I couldn't care less what kids go as. It's supposed to fun.

LtMoose · 21/02/2023 22:34

I'm so pleased my kids school don't dress up for WBD, they just ask the children to bring in their favourite book. I think more schools should do this.

RealBecca · 21/02/2023 22:35

Dont care. Some kids dont read or have parents that cant afford another outfit. If it gets them excited about the learning opportunities at school that day then so be it.

JibbaJam · 21/02/2023 22:36

I had an amusing conversation with my son that a Spider-Man costume shouldn't really count for world book day as it's merchandise not a real book. Then realised he's right and it was a book (well...comic) before the actual merchandise.

I stand by my point for Mr Incredible, Buzz Lightyear etc though!

Upshot is....he wins and I'm going to let him go as whatever he wants. If it features in a book in my house then it counts 🤷🏻‍♀️